NICOLA Sturgeon said she fears the forthcoming council elections will see equal representation go “backwards” as women are reluctant to enter the “toxic” world of politics.
Speaking at an event ahead of International Women’s Day, the First Minister highlighted that only three parliaments in the entire world have 50% female representation.
She said Holyrood had made progress following last year’s election, with 45% of MSPs now women.
But she added: “We have not yet reached equality, we are not yet anywhere close enough and we are just approaching elections this year for councils where right now less than 30% of councillors in council chambers across our country are women. That has to change.”
Sturgeon said all parties – including the SNP – were putting huge efforts into trying to encourage more women to stand and get more women elected.
READ MORE: 'Really difficult' to convince women to stand in council elections, MSP says
She added: “But I have a real fear about the forthcoming council elections and that we are not going to make strides forward – that we may actually go backwards.
“I know from my experience that I speak regularly to a number of women in my party who feel they don’t want to put themselves forward for elected office because they perceive politics in the modern age to be somewhere that is toxic where they will face abuse and harassment.
“They see the political environment as not being safe for women to participate in.
“We cannot allow that to be the reality, we must collectively change that and that for me is a priority as we go through the period of recovery from this pandemic.”
The Scottish Women’s Convention organised the event at Holyrood yesterday in conjunction with the Scottish Parliament in honour of International Women’s Day, which takes place on Tuesday.
Other speakers included public health expert Professor Linda Bauld (below) and Brenda King, chief executive of the charity African and Caribbean Diversity.
It opened with a round of applause to show solidarity for the women of Ukraine and all women experiencing conflict.
Sturgeon expressed her “solidarity, love and support” for the women and girls in Ukraine – as she warned life in their country is “likely to become more horrific” in the coming days.
The First Minister praised the “extraordinary courage and bravery” being shown by Ukrainians in the wake of the Russian invasion.
She noted that Ukraine was one of the countries in the world which had declared International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8, a public holiday.
She said: “Last year thousands of women marched peacefully through the streets of Kyiv to demand action to advance gender equality.
“One year later, Ukraine’s capital city is a very, very different place.
“What we are witnessing each and every day right now on our television screens is horrific and unfortunately is likely to become more horrific as the days unfold.”
Her words echoed those of Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who said: “Our thoughts and our hearts are with the women of Ukraine. As we gather here they are being forced apart from loved ones, with families torn apart, and women as they so often do caring for all who need it in the most difficult of circumstances.
“On this International Women’s Day we stand in solidarity with women in Ukraine and with women experiencing conflict wherever they may be.”
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